The circular RNA MICRA for risk stratification after myocardial infarction

A significant proportion of patients develop heart failure (HF) after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Predicting this development with novel biomarkers would allow tailoring healthcare to each individual. We recently identified a circular RNA called MICRA which was associated with HF development after MI. Here, we tested whether MICRA was able to risk stratify MI patients.

MICRA was assessed in whole blood samples collected at reperfusion in 472 patients with acute MI. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was evaluated by echocardiography at 4 months. Multivariable analyses with ordinal regression were conducted to determine the ability of MICRA to classify patients into 3 EF groups: reduced EF (≤ 40%), mid-range EF (4149%) and preserved EF (≥ 50%).

Eighty seven patients (18%) had a reduced EF, 106 (22%) had a mid-range EF and 279 (59%) had a preserved EF at 4 months. MICRA classified patients into EF groups with an adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] of 0.78 [0.64-0.95]. MICRA improved the predictive value of a multivariable clinical model as attested by a decrease of the Akaike Information Criteria (p = 0.012). Bootstrap internal validation confirmed the incremental prognostic value of MICRA.

We report that the circRNA MICRA improves risk classification after MI, supporting the added value of this novel biomarker in future prognostication strategies.